BOOK REVIEWS

When Your Voice Became Mine by Celeste N. Bowers is a study in faith and receiving answers, it is preceded by the author's first book, If there's a Mailbox in Heaven. This book is connected to that theme with the subtitle; There IS a Mailbox in Heaven. Although not explicitly numbered, this book is the second in the series. When Celeste Bowers and her husband and family lost their ten-year-old daughter, Christina, to cancer, the packages or letters to Heaven were a way to deliver messages and grow in faith and strength. The author didn't expect the answers from Heaven that gave her a new direction and purpose.

When Your Voice Became Mine is a mother’s uplifting tribute to her daughter, whose short life impacted many people.

Celeste N. Bowers’s heartfelt Christian epistolary work, When Your Voice Became Mine, celebrates the inspiring life of Christina Natalie Bowers, who, at ten years of age, lost her battle with cancer. Throughout her childhood and even after her passing, she continued to impact lives.

In the beginning of the book, Bowers is clear about why she’s writing. Her book isn’t about cancer or Christina’s life alone; rather, the shared accounts emphasize how Christina allowed God to use her to bring others close to God, for God’s glory. To do this work, the book first concentrates on Christina’s loving and positive attitude, her enjoyment of singing and dancing, her delight in playing with her friends, and the leadership skills she exhibited as early as in preschool.

Composed as a letter from Celeste Bowers to Christina, the book’s style captures feelings of awe, happiness, and gratitude for the way that Christina lived her life and the time they spent together. In one instance, Bowers reminds her daughter of the joy she felt when her close friends came to visit her, and how the visit made her swell with tears.

Built on a Christian lesson in humility, shown through the idea of allowing God to work through a person, the book explores how Christina exemplified humility in her life, as when she first learned of her cancer diagnosis. Christina’s immediate reaction, Bowers recalls, was to ask God to use her life for his purpose. She did not complain or even ask why she was sick. Instead, she embraced the situation. Her experience inspired others, including Brooke, a pediatric oncology and psychiatric nurse, who chose her career path based on the inspiration she received from Christina’s story.

The book goes back and forth between different periods, and it is sometimes challenging to place events along a clear timeline. This format leads to some repetition, as well. Still, the bond between Bowers and her daughter is evident, and Bowers’s pain comes through, not only in her passionate tone. Emotional incidents between the mother and daughter are covered, as when Bowers stayed in hospital singing for Christina. She confesses that she was tempted to ask why, but always remembers Christina’s courage throughout her ordeal.

Maintaining a keen sense of compassion for others who have gone through similar circumstances, the book is encouraging in asserting that life continues into eternity and death is only a temporary separation. Its Christian beliefs are clear; Bowers is shown assuring a fellow parent that life on earth is only a stepping stone.

When Your Voice Became Mine is a mother’s uplifting tribute to her daughter that focuses on the humility, compassion, and faith that the young girl displayed, as well as on the people she impacted with her life.

Celeste Bowers beautifully captures Christina’s life, her bright light, and the undeniable connection she made while here on earth. The captivating storytelling takes you down the memory lane of a brave little girl destined for immensity. It recounts beautiful highs and painful lows that give both mother and daughter the innate ability to remain optimistic while never losing sight of their faith. Christina’s life is a prime example of truly living, of which one can’t help but take notice. Even after the ultimate heartbreak, Celeste’s words and her life continue to echo in her daughter’s very steps, showing us firsthand the immense power of love.

When Your Voice Became Mine is a powerful testimony of a mother’s heart written to her beloved daughter in heaven. It is filled with perspective, purpose, hope, and love! After Christina entered heaven, Celeste began a journey of finding purpose through the pain. Celeste chooses to find joy, chooses to see gifts, and chooses to remember. Like many great heroes of the Bible, Celeste builds an altar of gratitude as she writes down each moment of their journey within the walls of Children’s Hospital of Orange County and the years that have followed, capturing the gifts and blessings along the way. She has eyes to see and has a heart focused on Jesus, the giver of every good gift. This book will surely leave a mark on your soul. Christina’s legacy lives on through each of us today when we choose to find joy in all circumstances, keep our focus on Christ, and carry our cross with joy and purpose! To Him be the glory!

“Hello. I’m Christina Bowers, and this award—it’s not about me; it’s about Christ working through me.” Our sweet Christina’s life is a remarkable example of the reality of God’s Word: strength in weakness, joy in the midst of storms, faith much stronger than the test, and a simple, yet genuine trust in a loving, caring heavenly Father. Those words from Christina touched the hearts and souls of a room full of people that night, but their life-changing power didn’t stop there! They continue to this day through Christina’s mom, my cherished friend, Celeste Bowers. You’ll hear them—no, you’ll feel them—as you read this amazing account of how our Lord is still being glorified by Christina’s journey, now through her mom’s voice.